A scholarship is available (fees plus stipend) for a 3-year full-time PhD programme, on the subject of sea-level rise, groundwater dynamics and impacts on infrastructure systems.
Coastal cities are facing a suite of climate-related hazards, with sea-level rise and associated groundwater impacts being a little-understood but potentially significant issue for infrastructure systems and the communities they service. Rising groundwater could result in significant inland flooding occurring on a regular basis in many of our cities. City authorities need better information on how future groundwater dynamics may influence their long-term infrastructure planning and management. This PhD project will utilise uniquely detailed groundwater monitoring datasets, geotechnical and infrastructure system data to: characterise drivers of coastal groundwater dynamics; develop methods to identify signals of groundwater response to sea-level rise; assess how current and future groundwater dynamics impact selected infrastructure systems; and develop frameworks to assist infrastructure system managers to incorporate groundwater information into climate adaptation strategic planning. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with infrastructure system managers in local government and industry partners.
The successful PhD applicant will have: a relevant degree in Engineering, Earth Science or Environmental Science; strong numerical modelling and programming skills; a systems-thinking approach to addressing complex problems; excellent communication skills.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Matthew Hughes
Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury
[email protected]
Interested applicants should send an expression of interest and their Curriculum Vitae.
